Mary Young | |
|---|---|
| Member of the ColoradoHouseofRepresentatives from the 50th district | |
| In office June 2, 2019 –January 8, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Rochelle Galindo |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Gonzalez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1950 or 1951 (age 74–75) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Dave Young |
| Alma mater | St. Mary's College (BA) University of Northern Colorado (PhD) |
| Website | Official website Campaign website |
Mary Young (born 1950 or 1951) is an American politician,psychologist,and special education teacher from the state of Colorado. A Democrat,Young represented the 50th district of the Colorado House of Representatives,based in Greeley,from June 2019 to January 2025. [1] [2]
From 1973 until 2001,Young worked as a special education teacher,initially in Romeoville,Illinois before moving to Weld County,Colorado. After getting a PhD in psychology in 2000,Young began working as a school psychologist,which she continues to do. [3]
In 2018,50th district incumbent –and Young's husband –Dave Young ran successfully for Colorado State Treasurer,and was succeeded in the State House by fellow Democrat Rochelle Galindo. Galindo resigned only 5 months into her term,however,after being accused of sexual misconduct and providing alcohol to a minor. [4]
That June,a Weld County Democratic vacancy committee met to determine Galindo's successor. Young won 6 of the committee's 9 votes,while Greeley-Evans school board member Rhonda Solis received 3;four other candidates applied but received no votes. [5] [6] Young assumed office immediately. She was re-elected in 2020 and 2022. [2] Young ran for re-election again in 2024. In the Democratic primary election held June 25,2024,she ran unopposed. [7] In the general election held November 5,2024,Young was defeated by Republican candidate Ryan Gonzalez. [8]
In the 2021-2022 legislative sessions,Young sat in the Public &Behavioral Health &Human Services Committee and was vice-chair of the Education Committee. [1] In the 2022 legislative session,Young sponsored bills which aimed at improving supportive learning,special education,mental health,reducing license fees and other similar measures. [9] For the 2023-2024 Legislative Sessions,Young sat on the same committees however became the Vice-Chair of the Public &Behavioral Health &Human Services Committee. In September 2022,the Colorado Behavioral Health Council recognized Young for her legislative work on behavioral health. [10]
Young lives in Greeley with her husband Dave. [11] She is a school psychologist. [1] Young is also a co-guardian of her sister-in-law after a liver transplant. [12]